EPL: Hammers nail Red Devils

West Ham United produced a late comeback to beat Manchester United 3-2 in the final ever match at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday.
A second-half Anthony Martial brace had put the visitors in front as they looked to spoil the party, but quickfire goals from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid ensured that the Hammers said goodbye to their home of 112 years in winning style.
The result lifts West Ham back up to fifth in the table and leaves Europa League qualification in their own fans, whereas Manchester United missed the chance to move fourth and must now rely on Manchester City slipping up on the final day to clinch Champions League football next season.
Kickoff was delayed by 45 minutes after the visitors’ team coach was attacked on the way to the stadium by West Ham fans, but that didn’t dampen the mood of the supporters and the game finally got underway amidst a deafening atmosphere.
It took just 10 minutes for the hosts to mark stadium’s farewell with the opening goal, with Aaron Cresswell finding Manuel Lanzini, who in turn slid a low cross into the box that Diafra Sakho swept home, with the help of a deflection off Daley Blind.
Roared on by the incessant noise from the home fans, West Ham continued to dominate proceedings and had the ball in the back of the net again in the 21st minute, only for Michail Antonio’s close-range finish to be disallowed after the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play on its way into the box.
Carroll was proving to be a constant aerial threat, and he almost regained his side’s lead when he planted a header towards the corner, only to see it cleared off the line by Martial.
The United youngster was proving to have a big impact at both ends of the field, and he gave United the lead with just under 20 minutes remaining when he outpaced Winston Reid before what looked like a mis-hit cross eluded Randolph and found the back of the net.
The visitors were ahead for just four minutes before West Ham levelled things up again, though, with Payet produced an inch-perfect pass at the second attempt for Antonio to glance past De Gea.
An already deafening Upton Park was cranked up a few more notches when the hosts completed the turnaround just five minutes later, with Payet again providing the assist as his free kick was nodded in by Reid, with De Gea unable to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball.